An outside firm is highly critical of how the Mount Vernon school district handled $7 million in contracts with private vendors. 

The vendors, Wellcore and Just Inspire, had a contract from 2015 to 2022.

The firm found the district did not publicly disclose that the son of Superintendent Waveline Bennett-Conroy was an employe of the vendors.

The district also could not provide sufficient documentation to support that the vendors provided services to students and staff, met any goals or performed the work completely or adequately.

It also did not follow proper procedures in selecting the vendors. Bennett-Conroy was suspended with pay last February.

The alleged mishandling of federal grants is under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The district says it is working to create an action plan, but could not comment further because the federal investigation is continuing.